she's right cept if you are like me (and many in here) who (A) don't fly for business like some friends I have who need to travel for work like every week or so, or (B) havent used money to pay for a flight in like 5 years! (well, maybe one or two here and there but certainly never enough to really gain any significant status)

99% of my flying is via credit card miles and promos.


I think getting status would also be a good idea because there are many things the economy traveler just cannot do. You should be able to get or do those things, but it's sub par. With status, for example, you don't get charged the $15 fee if you have to book tickets on the phone. Now that's a small example but such things go across the board, so you may get my point.

Strive for it if you can. Obtain and maintain it. Get addicted to this forum and learn of mileage runs. Go forth and prosper!

In the meantime, if you are fiddling and diddling with just a few flights a year and this is the big score (family flying) note that BA also lets people have a family account. You may not be using them now but what we once did was this:

Had mom, brothers and self all on one household BA account which had a total of 50k in it. Needed 60k to fly AA from states to Europe. Had a friend with 10+k do an address change form with them to say he lived with us (on paper). We then redeemed the added miles in the pool and one flight was had! Gave friend a free hotel stay one time to make it up at a decent SPG property. Call it what you will. The gain of status and EQMs is the best, most legitimate way to get uber miles. The few and far between little "scores" and the heavy use of credit cards and promos is the other way to get by when you just don't fly enough but wanna go for free/less when you do.

Just some info to take with ya for next time!
MM